research of christmas(tradition)

The traditions surrounding the celebration of this season are almost as numerous as the people who celebrate it. Through the years, the holiday has been adapted to local customs, culture, and history and so has produced an amazing variety of Christmas traditions around the world. Some, such as the giving of gifts or the use of a star, arose directly or indirectly out of the biblical nativity stories. Some, such as the legends of Saint Nicholas, have their origin in church history, historical fact that became legendary as it was embellished in story. Others, such as the use of evergreens and the yule log, have pagan origins but were transformed into distinctively Christian traditions. Others, such as the use of a crèche or caroling, arose first as local traditions in certain countries or regions that became widely adopted. And still others, such as, reindeer, elves, the North Pole, etc., have largely secular origins and are only loosely associated with the holiday in popular imagination or marketing techniques

research on CNY

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.
The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.

Compare and Contrast ( Wen Jun)

on my christmas celebration, i spent my time with cousins and family members,but jess spent his time in church and with strangers.he spent his esther with just his family members which consists of 7 members in total, including him.i had spent my christmas with more than 20 cousins,so i feel more lucky than him.he felt quite lonely during easter because leslie was the only person who had a chat with him.i felt very happy during the christmas party because i felt blissful that i am able to spend some time with my family members.i think it is also the only time in which we meet each other except Chinese New Year and my grandma's birthday.

Compare and Contrast(keith)

Something that is surely similar is both me and Jess spent time together with our families during Chinese New Year and/or Easter. While i meet up with my friends and relatives at my aunt's house, Jess meets up with Leslie and together with his family go to the church to celebrate it. Jess, I think, isn't so happy to spend time with his family as, they are somewhat not so close to his family compared to mine, but maybe with Leslie he is. Also on Christmas, was when Jess got P.T.(Prince Terrien) for Leslie as a pet and I think they were very happy then. During Chinese New Year, my family spends time with my relatives, but for them it was just with the church people. Also, I get "hong baos"(containing money) from my relatives for Chinese New Year, and Jess gets christmas presents( containing toys ) from his parents and a present from Leslie(art set). But still, we both spend time with our familes/ relatives and that is the most important thing during such a festive event.
-Keith

Compare and Contrast

My family and I celebrated Chinese New Year by going to my grandparent's house, playing with my cousins and visiting my friends' house. While Jess celebrated his Easter by going to Church, singing songs and playing with Leslie. Jess did not have any dinners and spend time with his relatives during easter like I did during Chinese New Year, Jess also did not went to visit his other friends from his school to play with them, and the only one he played with was Leslie.

- Yun Xian

CHRISTMAS

I went to my aunts house,which is a pent-house,and she welcomed us in.my parents joined my uncles and aunts in their conversation about the econmy and so,my brother and i joined our cousins in which we talked about school life.after the long and boring conversation with my cousins,we went to the living room to find poker cards. we managed to find some, and sneaked back up without getting suspected. after our game, which took about two hours,we all went up to the roof, for dinner, after our aunt's command.there was a spread on the table, and we helped ourselves to the delicious food.afterwe had our fill, my aunt requested us to sit in a circle to play some socializing games.we had a great time and our jaws were numb due to the weird but funny fact of our aunts and uncles joining us in the games.they were entertaining,as their actions were hilarious.after the games, we bade goodbye.this christmas was the most special because, last time,our christmas parties were filled with the audults gambling and the kids having nothing to do, but this year,we had lots of fun games, and we managed to socialize a little and not on the other hand,sleeping or watching television.i really had a great time.i could never forget this special and meaningful christmas i had spent with my family members -wenjun

Chinese New year( keith)

During Chinese New Year, my family and relatives all went to my aunt's house to gather for the celebration. My family stayed overnight there with most of our relatives, on the eve of Chinese New Year, so that it would be more exciting, and so that the adults could prepare for Chinese New Year the next day. My parents and the other adults played mahjong from about 9 o'clock at night till almost 5am in the morning, while me and my other cousins played upstairs. My cousin even brought his labtop and his PS2 so that we could play in my aunt's while the adults did their preperation. About 25 of us took and waited for turns to play these two things. I also brought some of my digital games to play there. We played till about almost 5am, same as the adults that were playing mahjong and almost didn't sleep, which the parents did not know. For the Reunion dinner the following day, we had a big feast we ordered at a restaurant and like most other families at the restaurant had " Yu Sheng". We also ordered many Chinese delicacies, and also had the pleasure of eating a claypot of sharks fin each, and some other tasty delights.
We all had a good time.
-Keith